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| Garry Brannigan's tips for making rewarding landscape photographs. |
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- Learn to really appreciate light and understand the effect it has on the landscape.
- Anticipate the light. If you're reacting and rushing to the light you've probably missed the picture.
- You won't get it right first time, you need to build up experience out in the field. Keep on learning all the time. This is a vital aspect of making your photography continually enjoyable.
- Beyond accurate exposure, there is no right or wrong way to depict the landscape. Try to communicate what you felt at the point you pressed the shutter.
- Many combinations of aperture and shutter speed produce an equivalent exposure ie: the same amount of light exposes the image. With a wide aperture and fast shutter speed, depth of field is shallow and movement stopped. With a small aperture and slow shutter speed depth of field is great but movement is harder to stop.
- Use your camera's SPOTMETER to take readings of the light reflected off a specific part of the landscape.
- If your image includes the sky, this will nearly always be brighter than the land, but take care not to include the sun in any of your readings of the sky.
- Rotate your polarizing filter to control the amout of light it absobs. With experience, you should notice the difference through the viewfinder as you rotate it.
- If using your camera's lightmeter to make your exposure calculation, you do not have to consider how much light a filter soaks up if you put the filters on your camera before you take your readings. The camera's lightmeter will allow for the filters.
- To avoid disappointments later, bracket your exposures 2/3rds of a stop (0.7) either side of your exposure calculation. Then consider bracketing for 1/3rd (0.3) of a stop to fine tune the exposure.
- Having a cable release allows you to stand back from your camera, take in the whole scene and open the shutter at the exact moment the landscape is looking its best. It also cuts down on camera shake.
- Today's zoom lenses are excellent, but don't allow them to do the walking for you. Try to find the viewpoint yourself, not your equipment.
- If you have the time, look around for a second image at a location. It may be behind you, it may be an abstract image. Always keep your mind open to the possibilities.
- When you find a location you really like, revisit it throughout the year. See what different effect the light has as the seasons change. Never discount what is on your doorstep.
- LENSES: Buy quality, not quantity.
- TRIPOD: Choose one that has been designed for landscape photography, ie: as sturdy as possible.
- FINALLY, remember that the more you practise, the luckier you will get!
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See Garry's for more information about his work.
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